The Legend of Zelda: Real Courage: Dark Mirror

Chapter Twenty-Two: LiLink

Zelda, Impa, and Salvatore waited for news about Zale's condition. Zelda sat in her chair with her legs crossed at the ankles. Even though she wore commoner garb, she looked regal. Impa was pacing the floor, hating the hopeless feeling that tied her stomach in knots. Salvatore held his head in his hands, his breathing shallow.

"Link and Lila have been gone for a long time," Zelda said suddenly. Impa and Salvatore looked at her. "I hope everything's okay."

"Why wouldn't it be?" Salvatore asked.

"Those two get into fights easily," Impa said.

"That's right," Zelda said. "There's no telling what trouble they may have gotten into." She stood up but Salvatore stopped her.

"There's no point looking for them," he said. "They didn't say where they were going. They might come back before you find them."

Zelda sat down again and sighed. "I suppose you're right. But if they don't come back soon, I will go looking for them."

The silence dragged on again. Impa resumed her pacing, and Salvatore took up his position once more. Zelda began tapping her foot.

Finally, Link appeared. Alone. He had a strange smile on his face. Zelda shot out of her chair to greet him.

"Where have you been? Where's Lila?" Zelda demanded.

Link's features changed slightly and his hair grew to Lila's length.

"I'm here," said the voice of Lila.

Then she shifted back to Link.

"We're both here," Link's voice said.

Zelda and the others gaped at the strange figure, not comprehending.

The form of Link spread his arms. "We are LiLink. Rova helped us reach our highest potential. Now we don't have to fight over the Master Sword."

Zelda grit her teeth. "No, you just have a body to fight over. How is this better?"

"Wo don't fight over our body," Lila said.

Link said, "As we said, Rova helped us. We know when it's our turn to come out."

Zelda's fingers dug into her palms. "This isn't right. You aren't yourself."

"Do you know that Rova is two beings in one?" Link revealed. "They can do it, so can we."

Zelda shook her head. "Lila, what about your marriage to King Zale?"

"That's not as important as protecting the kingdom."

"Not as... now I know you're not yourself. How could you possibly say that after all you've been through with him? You two were made for each other!"

"The kingdom comes first–"

"If you break the king's heart, I'll break you," Impa said. Her stance was one of ready to fight. "Change yourselves back!"

"That can't happen," LiLink said. "We are as we are, and the kingdom will be better for it."

"I'm going to talk to Rova," Zelda said as she walked toward the door.

LiLink stopped her with a firm grip. "You can't speak to her right now."

"Why not?" Zelda huffed. She tried to break her arm free but LiLink only squeezed harder. "You're hurting me, Link."

"We told you, we are LiLink!" They shoved Zelda away from them. She looked at them with sorrowful, shocked eyes.

Just then, the nurse entered the room through the second doorway. Salvatore and Impa looked at him, but Zelda and LiLink continued staring at one another.